The Early Growth of Beech Seedlings Under Natural and Experimental Conditions

IN a previous paper (1937) the root system of adult trees of Fagus sylvatica, growing on three main types of soil, was briefly described. It was pointed out that although variations in vigour could be correlated with the types and states of mycorrhizal infection described, no elucidation of the significance of that infection could be obtained. It was considered desirable, therefore, to study the growth of seedlings on the same range of soil types, for two reasons. First, previous workers have shown that beech regenerates itself with the greatest difficulty, especially on poor soils, and therefore the seedling stage may be a particularly interesting and critical phase. Secondly, the seedling is the only stage in the life of the beech when the whole organism can be handled easily, for measurement and analysis. It must be made quite clear at the outset, that the internal physiological conditions of the seedling, its habitat, and its relation to the habitat are all extremely different from those of adult trees under woodland conditions. Results obtained from the study of seedlings are therefore only applicable to the elucidation of problems concerning the adult tree in a very limited degree.